Terbufos sulfone aggravates kidney damage in STZ-induced diabetic rats

The consequences of chronic exposure of organophosphorus compounds (OPCs) on diabetic subjects have been seldom reported. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of non-lethal dose of terbufos sulfone (TS), an organophosphate, on the kidney of non-diabetic and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The diabetogenic effect of TS was also examined. Male Wistar rats were treated for two weeks with 130 μg/kg body weight/day of TS. This dose was 1/20 of LD₅₀ and produces less than 10% inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in non-diabetic rats. No observable symptoms of poisoning were noted. Weight, glucose and in vivo red blood cell (RBC)-AChE were measured on day 7 and 15 of the study. Serum biochemistry, urine analysis, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of kidney were performed to assess the toxicity at the end of the 15-day study. Our results did not reveal diabetogenic effect of TS treatment. Blood glucose level was significantly increased and RBC-AChE activity was significantly decreased in diabetic-TS treated rats compared to untreated diabetic and normal control animals. TEM of kidney revealed structural damage to kidney, which was more severe in diabetic-TS treated rats compared to controls. Toxicity to kidney by TS was further confirmed by urine and blood biochemistry. Our results conclude that non-lethal dose of TS aggravates the nephrotoxicity in diabetic rats. Further studies with other OPCs are needed to be able to generalize the diabetogenic effect of TS.